Table lift sounds good, when I am done putting stuff on my bike I might try that. For now something like harbor freight sounds good, hell, I used a cinder block for yrs, got to be an upgrade.
I would love to hear other ideas on lifts, the one from HD sounds great, I have a problem with the pricing on most dealer items so rarely buy ANY THING I can get of comparable quality some place else. Some shops have good prices, none I have found in the Metro mess.[/align] [/align]

 

I bought the red lift on sale for $49.95 and still had to hide it from the ole bay.

 

Me, I bought the J&P Cycles 1500lb. lift. Part# 910-420 $139.99 (without the Gold Club discount)and the thing hasn't let me down(no pun intended) works fine every time I've needed it.It cost more than some, and less than others. But it does come in the always stylish black/orange color combo The worst thing about buying a jack from mail order is the (usual) extra shipping charge. They are heavy and it's probably an extra $20-$25 for shipping. It has a kind of ratcheting action, to hold at a specific height, that will not lower/drop the bike until you want it down. And I've left the bike up for it for extended periods. Not sure if all have this or not. On most lifts, it seems the weak link is the hydraulic part of it. And the Dyna adapter kit is a good idea, also. Not a necessity, but it does help. And some good straps, for sure.

 

I know an Indy that would argue with you over the necessity of the adapter kit. It makes the bike level and more stable although mine seemed pretty darn stable when I tried the lift out without the adapter kit. Strapping it down is a must. IMO, if the bike falls off and crashes because you didn't have it strapped down, you can't blame the lift. And most lifts, including the much maligned Sears Red left, have a locking mechanism that should be used, especially if you are going to leave the bike on the lift for an extended period of time. Yes the lift is hydraulic and if it loses pressure for some reason over time and settles, at least the lock is there to stop it. So, if you use a lift that is rated well over the weight you want to use it for and you use the safety features, you should be okay unless something freaky happens like bolts failing or something unlikely like that. Several people have stated in various recent posts that they have the cheaper lifts and have been using them for as much as "years" with no issues. So, as someone else pointed out, just because it was cheap that doesn't, in and of itself, make it inferior.

I'd love to have a table lift but I have nowhere to keep it. I also don't plan on needing to work on my bike enough to justify that kind of expense. I have no need to lift my bike up and just leave it there. Typically, I'd lift it up, perform the work I was going to perform, and pull it back down.

I think it must help some to criticize the cheaper lifts in order to justify in their own minds paying more for an overkill lift. But that's just my opinion.

 

The adapter kit is a bone of contention. For every person that says you need it, there is somebody who says you don't. I use what I feel best works for me, and I've done it both ways.I never criticized any lift, yours included, please correct me if I'm wrong. This thread was asking for opinions, that's all I offered.

 

I recently bought the Sears yellow, didn't make up my mind until I looked at the red and yellow side by side. When I got it home I realized the way the yellow is built that it wouldn't fit under the dyna while the jiffy stand was down. I lifted it once with the jiffy stand up, without any blocks, and noted where the pressure was on the jiffy stand and set it down quick. I cut some 2x4 blocks and lifted it with that but didn't like the looks of it so I went to my local dealer and asked about the dyna blocks. The salesguy smirked at me and said the wrenches in back all used 2x4 blocks to lift the dynas. I said yeah, so what does that have to do with me wanting to buy the dyna blocks? Then he acted as if I was stupid and said that he'd order them for me if I really wanted them. I looked behind me and back at him and said, I'm here aren't I? Then asked him what they would cost me. He said 21.95 and I asked for the discount and he said no. I said that's fine, I'll order them from Zanotti's and they won't try to make me feel like a fool when I offer to give them money for a product and I left. Got them with shipping for about what I would have paid the local with taxes. Freaking jerk.
I like using them, the bike is very stable and I'm not damaging the jiffy stand, but I'd rather have a jack that doesn't have the front cross member that keeps me from lifting the bike while it's leaning on the jiffy stand.

 

I hope I didn't imply that you, personally, had criticized it hk. But, if you visit the general forum or have even seen discussions in this forum, you must admit there has been some over-bashing of the Sears Red lift for no good reason. Nobody can provide any evidence that is in an inferior or even dangerous lift to use. The only thing that is a given is that the lift is inexpensive. And that, itself, is no crime.

As far as the adapter kit is concerned, I agree with you somewhat. I just remember being in an Indy shop not long ago and asked about where to find a decent lift for my bike. He recommended Sears but also told me to be sure to get an adapter kit for my dyna or I could cut some blocks of my own to do the same thing. However, one of my best friends has the same lift he uses on his 03 Lowrider since it was new and he had never even heard of the adapter kit, much less ever used it. Also, I went to a dealer to buy the adapter kit and both people working behind the parts counter had never even heard of it, and according to the inventory computer, they had never even stocked it. I had to show them where it was in the P&A catalog. That dealer sells a lot of bikes so that has to say something if the parts dept. of a somewhat major dealer has never even heard of it or stocked it. I had them order the adapter kit and drop ship it to me just for peace of mind. But, as I said earlier, when I first got the lift, I tried it out on my bike without the adapters and it seemed to be fairly level and very steady.

 

You did exactly what I would have done. The dealer I ordered mine from was ignorant about them but they didn't make me feel like an *** for wanting to buy them.

I don't lift my bike with the jiffy stand up. I clip the adapters on to the frame and the left side ones I angle toward thelift/underside of the bike. Then I position the lift as far under the bike as I can get it. I then straddle the bike and begin to stand it up while pulling the lift further under the bike periodically checking and positioning the adapters until they are square with the lift. I can then stop off the right side of the bike holding onto the handlebar (jiffy stand still down) and quickly pump the lift up to take the weight of the bike. Once I throw the strap over and hook it to both sides, I go ahead and lift the bike up until it's high enough to engage the first lock position on the lift. That's usually high enough but if I need to go higher, I always exceed the next lock position and then let it back down gently to engage the lock at whatever position I want the bike in and then tighten down the tie down strap. I've used a considerable amount of force to shake the bike back and forth and it never seems like it is even close to trying to come off of the lift.

My buddy, who also uses the red lift, had a notch cut into his crossmember on the front of the lift to allow it to go under the bike fully and clear the jiffy stand. But, he doesn't use tha adapters either. His bike is so low, he woudn't be able to do it otherwise. And, if he tried to use the adapters, he'd have a bit of a time unless he rode the bike up on blocks before lifting it.

 

Pep Boys $50.00 lift and with the adapters, it works just fine. I put on a couple of straps to make sure it doesn't go anywhere and have no wobble problems at all. If I have a little extra money to blow, it sure isn't going to be on upgrading a lift sitting in a garage.

 

Well, seeing as you quoted me, I did think that. I see now, I was wrong.No harm, no foul. [sm=deal.gif]
I have visited the general forums, and I do remember a lot of folks bashing the 'evil red jack'. Unjustly, so, it apears. Never a crime to save money for other goodies, is what I say.
As far as the experiences I've just read about the adapters, sounds like even the supposed parts counter 'experts' could usea customer relations seminar...